Contacts
Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)
www.aat.gov.au
Independent review of a wide range of decisions made by the Australian Government, including disputes about Centrelink and Child Support
Tel: 1800 228 333
AustLII
www.austlii.edu.au
Database of current Australian legislation and case law
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
www.accc.gov.au
Information and assistance in understanding Australian consumer protection laws including debt collection guidelines for collectors and creditors
Tel: 1300 302 502
Australian Energy Regulator
www.aer.gov.au
Useful information and contacts for consumers
Tel: 1300 585 165
Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA)
www.afca.org.au
AFCA is the free and independent dispute resolution scheme for the financial services industry and insurance-related complaints
Tel: 1800 931 678
Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA)
www.afsa.gov.au
Everything you need to know about bankruptcy in Australia, including information guides and links to relevant forms
Tel: 1300 364 785
(If you have difficulty speaking or understanding English, contact the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) 131 450 and ask for AFSA on 1300 364 785)
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
www.asic.gov.au
Information about consumer credit protections
Tel: 1300 300 630
Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
www.ato.gov.au
Information about tax debt
Community Justice Centres NSW
www.cjc.justice.nsw.gov.au
Free, confidential mediation services for community-based related disputes
Tel: 1800 990 777
Community Legal Centres Australia (CLCS)
www.clcs.org.au
Assistance with finding the appropriate community legal centre to obtain free legal advice when dealing with interstate matters
Community Legal Centres NSW (CLCNSW)
www.clcnsw.org.au
Contact information for community legal centres across NSW
Credit Law Toolkit
www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/ways-to-get-help/publications-and-resources/credit-law-toolkit
A detailed guide for lawyers and financial counsellors assisting clients with credit law matters
Credit reporting
You can access a copy of your credit report from these organisations:
• illion www.illion.com.au Tel: 13 23 33
• Equifax www.mycreditfile.com.au Tel: 13 83 32
• Experian www.experian.com.au Tel: 1300 783 684
Deaf Connect
www.deafconnect.org.au
Find and book interpreters
Tel: (02) 8833 3600
Skype: deafsocietyofnsw
SMS: 0427 741 420
Department of Home Affairs (Commonwealth) Free Translating Service
www.translating.homeaffairs.gov.au
Free translating service for people settling permanently in Australia
Domestic Violence NSW
www.facs.nsw.gov.au/domestic-violence
Range of resources, information and contact information for people experiencing domestic violence in NSW
Tel: 1800 656 463 (24-hour domestic violence line)
Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON)
www.ewon.com.au
Complaints about energy and water suppliers in NSW
Tel: 1800 246 545
Federal Court of Australia
www.fedcourt.gov.au
Bankruptcy guides, practice notes, forms and fee information
Financial Counselling Australia
www.financialcounsellingaustralia. org.au
Contact information for financial counsellors near you
Financial Counsellors Association of NSW (FCAN)
www.fcan.com.au
Contact information and advocacy for financially vulnerable people and support for people experiencing financial hardship in NSW
Tel: 1300 914 408
Financial Rights Legal Centre
www.financialrights.org.au
Advice, advocacy and online resources for consumers in financial stress
• National Debt Helpline, for free financial counselling — 1800 007 007
• Insurance Law Service — 1300 663 464
• Mob Strong Debt Help, for Aboriginal clients who need help managing debt — 1800 808 488
Find Legal Answers
www.legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au
A service of the State Library of New South Wales that provides information in plain English to help you answer common legal questions — information is available online or through resources at your local library
GambleAware
www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au
24/7 telephone counselling and referrals to local face-to-face counsellors
Tel: 1800 858 858
Home Building Advocacy Service (HoBAS)
www.wsclc.org.au/programs/home-building-advocacy-service-hobas
Legal advice service with consumers with home building disputes
Tel: (02) 8833 0994
Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network
www.ican.org.au
Education, advocacy and financial counselling for Indigenous consumers across Australia
Tel: 1800 369 878
Law Society of NSW
www.lawsociety.com.au
Information about legal cost disputes
Tel: (02) 9926 0333
Law Society of NSW — Pro Bono Scheme
www.lawsociety.com.au
Request pro bono legal assistance from solicitors in NSW
Tel: (02) 9926 0364 or (02) 9926 0355
Law Society of NSW — Solicitor Referral Service
www.lawsociety.com.au
Request referrals to private solicitors across NSW
Email: ereferral@lawsociety.com.au
Tel: (02) 9926 0300
Legal Aid NSW
www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au
Legal Aid NSW provides legal information to anyone with a legal problem in NSW through their legal information and referral service, LawAccess NSW. You can contact LawAcces NSW by using their online chat service or by phone.
Tel: 1300 888 529
For legal advice about fines and specialist assistance for people eligible for Work and Development Orders (WDOs), call the following number in your region and ask to speak to the WDO Service:
• Central West & North West NSW — (02) 6362 8022
• North Coast & North Eastern NSW — (02) 6621 2082
• South Coast, Southern NSW & Far West — (02) 4228 8299
• South West & Western Sydney — (02) 9601 1200
• Sydney Metro, Central Coast & Hunter — (02) 9219 5000
Email: WDO@legalaid.nsw.gov.au
Lifeline
www.lifeline.org.au
24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention, via telephone and online chat
Tel: 13 11 14
Local Court of NSW
www.localcourt.nsw.gov.au
Information about Local Court locations, contacts, listings, processes and procedures
MoneySmart
www.moneysmart.gov.au
Free online financial guidance and resources for money and debt management, including the Dealing with Debt Collectors publication and lists of ASIC-approved credit providers
Mortgage Stress Handbook
www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au
A practical guide for people having trouble with their mortgage
Multicultural NSW — Language Services
www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au
Comprehensive interpreting and translation services in numerous languages, including Auslan and relay services
National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI)
www.naati.com.au
Online directory of accredited translators and interpreters
National Debt Helpline
www.ndh.org.au
Free advice service to help people tackle debt problems
Tel: 1800 007 007
NSW Ambulance
www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au
Information about ambulance bill exemptions and financial hardship options
Tel: 1300 655 200
NSW Bar Association — Legal Assistance Referral Scheme (LARS)
www.nswbar.asn.au
Request pro bono legal assistance from barristers in NSW
NSW Caselaw
www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au
Up-to-date database of NSW caselaw (judge-made law and decisions)
NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT)
www.ncat.nsw.gov.au
State administrative tribunal which deals with consumer and other matters; information about consumer claims and procedural matters
Tel: 1300 006 228
NSW Fair Trading
www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
Information and assistance regarding consumer rights and guarantees
Tel: 13 32 20
NSW Legislation
www.legislation.nsw.gov.au
Up-to-date versions of NSW legislation, rules and regulations
NSW Online Registry
www.onlineregistry.lawlink.nsw.gov.au
Allows 24/7 online filing of various court and tribunal documents
NSW Ombudsman
www.ombo.nsw.gov.au
Independent and impartial watchdog dealing with complaints about state agencies and councils
Tel: (02) 9286 1000
NILS NSW
www.nilsnswfindascheme.org.au
List of NILS (no interest loan scheme) providers in NSW
Tel: 1800 509 994
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
www.oaic.gov.au
OAIC can deal with complaints about incorrect information held by a credit reporting body
Office of the Legal Services Commissioner (OLSC)
www.olsc.nsw.gov.au
Deals with complaints about legal practitioners in NSW and provides information about legal costs complaints
Tel: 1800 242 958 or (02) 9377 1800
Revenue NSW
www.revenue.nsw.gov.au
Pay or dispute fines, court fines and overdue fines; for further information about referred government debts, call the appropriate number below:
• Fine Notices — 1300 138 118
• Overdue Fines — 1300 655 805
• WDO Hotline — 1300 478 879
• Advocate’s Hotline — 1300 135 627
Service NSW
www.service.nsw.gov.au
Information about paying tolls and toll notices; Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) vouchers are available through Service NSW and you can call 13 77 88 for information about energy rebates; book an appointment at a service centre to have documents translated into English, or from English into another language
Services Australia
www.servicesaustralia.gov.au
Information about Centrepay options and online registration; information about Centrelink, Child Support and student loan debt
Strata Collective Sales Advocacy Service
(run by Marrickville Legal Centre)
www.mlc.org.au/services/strata
Free legal advice for lot owners with strata scheme issues
Tel: (02) 9559 2899
Supreme Court Costs Assessment Scheme
www.supremecourt.justice.nsw. gov.au
Information about legal cost assessment
Tel: 1300 679 272
Telecommunication Industry Ombudsman (TIO)
www.tio.com.au
Independent dispute resolution service for telephone and internet complaints
Tel: 1800 062 058
Tenants’ Union of NSW
www.tenants.org.au
Information about tenants’ rights and contact information for Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services across NSW
Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS)
www.tisnational.gov.au
Telephone interpreter services, for assistance with contacting courts and service providers
Tel: 131 450
Salvation Army
www.salvationarmy.org.au
Information about emergency and crisis relief, and local service centres
UCPR Online
www.ucprforms.nsw.gov.au
Online access to all current and approved UCPR forms
Victims Services NSW
www.victimsservices.justice.nsw. gov.au
Information about victim support services and restitution matters
Tel: 1800 633 063 (Victims Access Line)
Tel: 1800 019 123 (Aboriginal contact line)
Welfare Rights Centre
welfarerightscentre.org.au
Legal advice on Centrelink and social security matters to people in NSW; advice is provided over the phone
Tel: (02) 9211 5300
1800 226 028 (toll-free from outside Sydney metro area)